Hair treating box



May 8, 1934. P. e. GAIRE HAIR TREATING BOX Filed Sept. 20, 1933 Mama/x3 Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in hair treating boxes, wherein provision is made for utilizing the box for the type of hair treat ment known as twisting or for the type of hair treatment known as croquignole waving.

The primary object is the provision of means by which the box sections ordinarily associated by hinged connection are secured in box-forming relation in a simple, convenient manner to insure a non-leaking juncture of the gaskets ordinarily provided at their meeting edges.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a box of this character which is hinged at the ends and capable of opening lengthwise to permit its convenient use for twist waving in which the hair is introduced from the end, as well as for croquignole waving in which the hair is introduced from the side.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a protective element to be used between the box proper and the head of the customer to prevent the transfer of heat from the box to the customers head, this protective element being in the present instance formed integral with the gaskets provided at the meeting edges of the box sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing leakage of the heat treating element, usually steam, around the edge of the gasket in the event the box should be so filled with the hair strands as to exert edge pressure on the gasket enclosing the sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an element to be introduced into the box for the primary purpose of absorbing the water of condensation incident to the treatment by steam, this absorption element serving to prevent such water of condensation leaking onto the head of the customer during treatment and in th opening of the box after treatment.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of one form of a complete hair treating box constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the combined gasket and protective clamp sections.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation showing the use of the box in croquignole waving.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the same The improved hair treating box of this invention is made up of two elongated, substantially semi-cylindrical, metallic sections 1 and 2,

each formed at one end with hinged arms 3 connected by a pivot 4 beyond the box proper to permit the opposite free ends of the box to be swung open. One of the sections, here shown as 2, is provided with a nipple extension 5 opening to the interior of the section for the introduction of the heating agent, usually steam, a flexible steam conductor leading from a source of supply being merely forced onto the nipple or removed therefrom according to the necessities.

The proximate edges of the metallic sections 1 and 2 are provided with gaskets so that when the sections are forced together, a sealing cooperation Will be effected to prevent leakage from the box as a whole. These gaskets, shown more particularly in Figure 4, are approximately rectangular strips 6 slotted throughout one longitudinal edge at 7 to snugly receive and grip the appropriately formed edge 8 of the metallic section to which they are applied. The relatively inner edges of the gaskets are plain fiat surfaces, indicated at 9, which surfaces are designed to abut when the sections are closed to provide the necessary seal, as indicated more particularly in Figure 3.

An essential and particular feature of the present invention is involved in the use of the sections 1 and 2 and an additional removable element through which the sections may be clamped in closed sealing relation. In order to provide for this result, the respective sections are distorted from a true semi-cylindrical form and are gradually forced outwardly on a line diametrically of the box as a whole to present projecting portions '10. These projecting portions form in effect ribs on the outer surfaces of each of the sections of the box, and the configuration of each section is such that the relatively outer surfaces of the respective ribs diverge from the hinged end of the sections toward the opposite or free ends.

The clamping element proper is in the shape of a ring 11 having a diameter to pass freely over the hinged end of the box but which diameter is materially less than the maximum distance between the outer surface of the ribs adjacent the open end of the box. Therefore, as the ring is forced longitudinally of the ribs, the sections are forced together and the gaskets brought into sealing cooperation, the longitudinal movement of the ring being continued until resisted by the spread of the rib, at which point the sections will be closed to maintain the box in completed form and the sealing gasketswill be in sealing cooperation along their surfaces 9.

In hair treatment, it is customary to introduce an element between the hair treating box and the head of the customer. This element serves to protect the head of the patient against the heat from the box and also to guide the strands of hair being treated. In the present invention, it is contemplated that this protective element be formed integral with the sealing gaskets, and to this end the lower end of each of the sealing gaskets, i. e. the end cooperating with the free end of each section, is provided with a block 12, preferably of rubber, which extends below the gasket for an appreciable length and has a width preferably exceeding that of the box section with which it is in cooperation. Each of the blocks 12 is formed with transverse openings 13, of which there'may be any numher, which openings extend through the block, and when the sections are closed and the proximate surfaces of the blocks brought into contact, these openings register to form air passages to assist in maintaining the block or protective clamp relatively cool.

It not infrequently happens that in the treatment of hair, the hair strands accumulated within the box will be in suflicient volume to exert pressure upon the inner edges of the gaskets as the box sections are brought together in closing the box for use. Under these circumstances, the inner edge of the gasket is slightly twisted from its normal position with a tendency to correspondingly move the relatively outer edge of the gasket away from the outer surface of the metallic section with which it cooperates, with the result of permitting the heating medium delivered in the box leaking through the opening thus provided.

More specifically, and with particular reference to Figure 3, if the sections are filled with hair, there is a tendency, when the sections are closed, to exert a distorting pressure upon the edges of the gasket, indicated at 14, with the eifect that the portion of the gasket, indicated at 15, is twisted away from contact with the metallic surface of the section and thus provide a leakage outlet. To prevent this, the present invention contemplates the extension of the gasket throughout its full length or any determinate part thereof in the form of a perforated sealing strip 16, which strip extends from the gasket and overlies and bears snugly against the inner surface of the section to which the gasket is applied. This strip, which may be of any length or any appropriate width transverse the box, will under the distortion of the gasket described tend to be forced more tightly into contact with the inner surface of the metallic section, and thus even if the edge 15 of the gasket should separate from the outer surface of the section, the sealing strip 16 will effectively prevent any leakage.

Furthermore, in hair treatment, particularly where the box is used for twist treatment of the hair, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the heating agent, ordinarily steam, will during treatment condense to provide for the accumulation of more or less water within the box. As the box in this use opens at the bottom, this water, if not otherwise taken care of, would leak onto the head of the customer. To overcome this, an absorption section 1'7 is designed to be placed within the box, such section being of a highly absorptive character and in sufficient mass to absorb and hold all of the water of condensation and thus prevent leakage when the box is opened. The absorption sections are inserted in the spaces between the sealing strips 16 and the sections 1 and 2 and are intended to be introduced as a separate additional element for the definite purpose of absorbing the water of condensation of the heating agent.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the box is used in the upright position for treating hair with a twist treatment. The strands of hair are introduced into the box on the usual conventional pin 18 and the sections closed about the hair. As the sections are closed, the blocks 12 embrace the strand of hair below the pin and box proper and form an-efiective sealed clamping protective element between the box and head of the customer. It is preferred that the clamp blocks 12 be adjacent the head of the customer and clamp the strand of hair leading within the box proper and onto the pin. The absorption elements 17 having been introduced into the sections, the ring 11 is passed longitudinally and forced to a position to insure sealing cooperation between the gaskets 6. Under this clamping action of the ring, the blocks 12 are forced together so as to insure a gripping action on the strands of hair and form an effective barrier between the heat of the box or any leakage therefrom onto the head of the customer.

Steam or other heating medium is introduced through the conduit connected to the nipple 5 and permitted to escape through an opening 19 at the upper end of the other section of the box. The absorption elements will absorb the water of condensation, and following treatment the mere upward movement of the ring 11 releases not only the sections of the box but the clamp blocks 12 and the pin 18 bearing the strands of hair. The hair is then removed from the pin and the operation, so far as the use of the box is concerned, is completed.

The improved box may be adjusted for either twisting or croquignole waving, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Here the edges of the gaskets are extended longitudinally of the boxes to form clamps 12a. As the strands of hair are coiled about a pin, the box is used on its side rather than its end. Under these circumstances, blocks 12a are effective as a protective clamp. The box itself. insofar as the sections, gaskets and absorptive element are concerned, is the same as previously described, the sections being indicated at 21, the gaskets at 22, the absorptive element at 23, the sealing strips at 24, and the clamping ribs at 25. In this use, however, the clamping ring, indicated at 26, cannot be complete because provision must be made for moving over the strands of hair entering through the side of the box. To secure this, the ring is simply split, as at 27, and otherwise rigid to prevent inherent spreading. The ring is applied exactly as in the form first described, except that care is taken so that the division of the ring is in line with the strands of hair entering the box to avoid interference in clamping the box sections in place.

While it is preferred that the box sections proper be constructed of metal, the gaskets and clamping blocks 12 of relatively soft rubber, and the absorption members 17 of a highly absorptive textile material, it will be understood that tion be constructed of any appropriate material and in any relative size or sizes to secure the result desired.

I claim:

1. A. box for use in hair treatment including sections hinged at their ends, and a clamping ring wholly free of any connection with the box for embracing and confining the sections in sealing cooperation.

2. A box for use in hair treatment including metallic sections hingedly connected at one end, gaskets removably secured to the proximate edges of the sections, and a wholly independent clamping ring for embracing the sections and forcing the gaskets into sealing cooperation.

3. A box for use in hair treatment including metallic sections hingedly connected at one end, gaskets removably secured to the proximate edges of the sections, and a clamping ring wholly free of any connection with the box for embracing the sections and forcing the gaskets into sealing cooperation, said sections being formed with diverging ribs to permit clamping action of the ring.

4. A box for use in hair treating including sections hinged at one end, gaskets applied to the proximate edges of the sections, means wholly free of any connection with the box for clamping the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, and a protective clamp integral with the gaskets and extended beyond the open end of the box.

5. A box for use in hair treating including sections hinged at one end, gaskets applied to the proximate edges of the sections, means wholly free of any connection with the box for clamping the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, and protective clamping elements integral With the gaskets and extended beyond the ends of the box, said clamping elements including blocks moved into clamping cooperation when the sections are closed.

6. A box for use in hair treating including sections hinged at one end, gaskets applied to the proximate edges of the sections, means wholly free of any connection with the box for clamping the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, and protective clamping elements integral with the gaskets and extended beyond the ends of the box, said clamping elements including blocks moved into clamping cooperation when the sections are closed, each of the blocks being formed with registering openings to provide through hair channels.

7. A box for use in hair treatment including relatively rigid sections, gaskets carried by the proximate edges of said sections, means wholly free of any connection with the box embracing the outer surfaces of the sections for clamping the sections together to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, the gaskets being extended within the section to seal the box.

8. A box for use in hair treatment including sections hinged at the upper end, each of the sections being extended to form a clamping rib outwardly divergent from the hinged end, and a ring to cooperate with the ribs of both sections to clamp the sections together.

9. A box for use in hair treatment including sections hinged at the upper end, each of the sections being extended to form a clamping rib, outwardly divergent from the hinged end, and a ring to cooperate with the ribs of both sections to clamp the sections together, said ring being divided to pass the strands of hair when the box is in use for a particular hair treatment.

10. A box for use in hair treatment including metallic sections formed to present outwardly extending clamping ribs, a gasket carried by the meeting edges of the sections, a ring embracing the sections and cooperating with the ribs to clamp the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, and a normally dry, highly absorptive element arranged within the box.

11. A box for use in hair treatment including metallic sections formed to present outwardly extending clamping ribs, a gasket carried by the meeting edges of the sections, a ring wholly free of any comiection with the box embracing the sections and cooperating with the ribs to clamp the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, and a clamp box carried by the gasket for each section, the clamp box being forced into clamping cooperation simultaneously with the clamping of the sections.

12. A box for use in treating hair comprising metallic sections formed to present outstanding divergent ribs, gaskets carried by the proximate edges of the sections, a sealing strip carried by both gaskets and extended within the. sections into contact with the inner surface thereof, a clamping ring cooperating with the ribs to force the gaskets of the respective sections into sealing cooperation, and integral clamping blocks car- .ried by each gasket and arranged wholly below the section.

13. A box for use in treating hair comprising metallic sections formed to present outstanding divergent ribs, gaskets carried by the proximate edges of the sections, sealing strips carried by both gaskets and extended within the sections into contact with the inner surface thereof, a clamping ring cooperating with the ribs to force the gaskets of the respective sections into sealing cooperation, and an integral clamping block carried by each gasket and arranged wholly below the sections, said clamping block being at least equal in dimension to the dimension of the section to which it is connected.

14. A box for use in hair treatment including two sections hinged at their upper ends and free of connection at their lower ends, gaskets carried by the proximate edges of the sections, and means including a clamping ring wholly free of any connection with the box for clamping the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, a steam inlet carried by the upper end of one section, and a steam outlet formed in the upper end of the other section.

15. A box for use in hair treating including sections hinged together, gaskets applied to the proximate edges of the sections, means wholly free of any connection with the box for clamping the sections to force the gaskets into sealing cooperation, the gaskets being extended from one end and one side of the box to form protective clamping elements.

16. A box for use in hair treating including sections hinged together, gaskets applied to the proximate edges of the sections, said gaskets having perforated extensions contacting with inner surfaces of the sections adjacent the edges thereof and centrally spaced from the center of said surfaces, absorbent material confined in said spaces to absorb condensate during hair treatment, and means for clamping the sections together.

PAUL GUSTAVE GAIRE. 

